shall gather Paleness in that Day Oh therefore be intreated in tender Love I beseech you to Return Return out of Babylon unto the Gift of God the True Light that makes ye all manifest and in which ye are all seen and comprehended I say in the Name of the Lord my God and in much Love to your Souls be intreated to return unto it its near you to instruct you and to make all things manifest to you if you will come unto it Oh turn your Minds How oft have you been reproved by it and you never found Guile in his Mouth though he hath told you all that ever you have done yet you regard him not but prefer fading finite and unprofitable Things above him Oh! haste haste out of Babylon tarry not the Day of Vengeance is near and then will you come to know the True Baptism is not into Water but into the Name of the Father Son and Spirit and that Christ in the 28th of Matthew 18 19. when he sent his Apostles out to teach all Nations and that the Baptism there spoken of commanded by Christ was not into Water but into the Name of the Father Son and Spirit neither is there any such a word as Water mention'd in his words there spoken to them but into the Name of the Father Son Hoâ—y Ghost he bad them baptize But some may say It must needs be Water there intendâ—d because that none can baptize with the Holy Ghost but Christ. I Answer True None can but He and by his Power only therefore he tells them in the first place that All Power is given unto me saith he both in Heaven and in Earth and they now must not go in their own Strength or Power but in his Power and it was his Power in them and by them that did the Work he sent them to do and so he saith unto them Without me ye can do nothing but lo I am with you alwayes even to the End of the World and all Power is mine And now you Water-Baptists let me ask Now where is Iohn's Power Iohn hath now no Power nor Moses hath now no Power in a way of Administration if all be given to him and be his as I am satisfied it is And here its plain he only is here established Now it must not be admitted for any other to have a Tabernacle standing or builded with his No Though Peter would have had Three one for Moses one for Elias and one for Christ That Elias was already come mind and they have done to him whatever they would And is it not plain to you that this was Iohn the Baptist here spoken of and intended And yet mind neither Moses nor Elias must have a Tabernacle built with his but a Cloud came and took them away mark and Christ only left and a Voice from Heaven came saying This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear him Oh! what would you have How clearly is it manifest unto all who walk not in Darkness that he only is by himself established to be heard in all things And saith the Apostle He that refuseth to hear this Prophet shall be cut off from off the Earth And again See ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not that refused him that spoak on Earth even Moses how shall ye escape if ye refuse him that speaks from Heaven whose Voâ—ce then shook the Earth but now says he Yet once more will I not shake the Earth only but also Heaven mark that those things that cannot be shaken may remain Mind what must remain and how he alone even Christ is above all established And it s said again by Paul God saith he who at sundry Times and in divers Manners spakâ— in days past to the People by the Prophits hath in these last dayes spoken unto us BY HIS SON mark not by his SON and JOHN but by his SON whom He hath appointed Heir of all things mind So All Power is given unto me saith Christ Go ye therefore teach all Nations Baptizing them into the Name of the Father Son and Spirit or if you had rather have it Holy Ghost teaching them to observe whatever I command you and lo I am with you always even to the End of the World but tarry at Jerusalem till ye have received Power from an high for without me ye can do nothing So 't is not saith Peter by our Strength or Righteousness that this man is made whole Why stand ye gazing upon us as though by our Power Holiness it was done Be it known unto you that by the Name of JESUS whom ye crucified even by Faith in his Name is this Man made whole And said Paul I have laboured more abundantly then ye all yet not I but the Gift or the Grace of God that 's in me And so it was in his Strength that they were more then Conquerors and could do all things through Christ that strengthned them but before they could not before I say that they went in his Strength So there was need for them to wait at â—erusalem till they had received of his Fulness of which they all received Grace to help in Time of Need. But now mark They had not Need to have stay'd at Ierusalem for Power to have Baptized with Water for they had been doing that before and were Able enough for that Baptism but now they were to enâ—er upon a Greater Work and it is not they must do it but the Gift of God in and by them or the Power they received so saith Christ Lo I am with you and as many as received him to them he gave Power for all Power is given to me saith Christ ALL mark So though the Apostles as Men could not baptize into the Name of the Father Son and Spirit no more then we as men can do yet mark Christ in and by them can or us either and in and by them did and when the Apostles laid their Hands on them that believed the Holy Ghost fell upon them and sometimes when they were preaching unto them the Holy Ghost fell upon them yet it was not them that could so much as preach as they ought but Christ in and by them God speaks by his Son through his Vessels of Honour fitted for his Use so it s not them but Christ who also Raised the Dead Opened the Eyes of Blind Healed the Sick Cleansed the Lepers and many great and good Works did they yet not they but the Gift of God in them and by them and so they went in the Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power and preached Christ the Wisdom of God and the Power of God the Savour of Life unto Life IN THEM mark in them that are saved and the Savour of Death unto Death in them that perish But they never cryed out Water-Baptism is the Door for Christ Jesus said I am the Door by ME mark not Me and Water nor Me
and Iohn but BY ME if any man enter in he shall be saved Oh he is of himself sufficient and shall go in and cut and find Pasture The Apostles never called it as you do An Initiating Ordinance and say you A Command of Christ But who say so beside you Where do you prove it Prove Friends whoever you are I challenge all the whole VVorld to prove that Christ ever mentioned such a thing to any of his Ministers as by way of Command as Water-Baptism but said as above said Ye said he shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost and Go teach all Nations baptizing them into the Name of the Father Son holy Ghost say not We cannot be not dismay'd for Lo I am with you and all Power is given unto me both in Heaven and in Earth therefore without me ye can do nothing but abide in me and then ye shall bear Fruit in me ye shall have Peace But though it were so that he had meant as you Baptists say he did Water Baptism and that that Commission belongs to you say you the World is â—ot yet ended therefore say you it is still to be observed suppose this were granted you then I ask you How missed Paul of it that he had no Share in this Commission for Paul saith in 1 Cor. 1. 13. That Christ sent me not saith he to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel mark How comes it to pass that you are greater Sharers in this Commission then Paul And how must we do to know it For if it did not reach Paul who was Converted and one not behind the Apostles how can it reach you And though you may say All are not sent to Baptize Then I ask you How must we do to know who are and who are not But say you Paul meant NOT ONLY Oh Friends have you this Hole to creep out at its a little One too little to get out at 'T is your Meaning but we must not take your Meanings when the Lord lets us see he means otherwise for Paul said not so nor dare any true Christian say that Paul meant so but said what he meant and meant what he said Well but say you Baptists He did Baptize It s true he did some Few but he thanks God they were so few But it seems though he did he did not do it by Commission For Christ sent me not to Baptize saith he but to Preach How then why by Permission as he also Circumcised Timothy by Permission because of the Iews but not because Christ had commanded it for he had not Paul himself said If ye speaking to the Galatians If ye be Circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing yet took that Liberty for a particular End because of the Iews to do that particular Act. He also observed the Law and went under Seven Dayes Purification and had an Offering bought according to the Law but not because it was commanded by Christ for Christ had not commanded it but because of the Iews Yea and had had he not another time his Head shorn and was under a Vow Much might be said that was done by the Apostles that was not commanded by Christ nor that they left No Command to after Ages to observe But it s also clear in Acts 26. 15 16 17 18. that Paul had no such word in his Commission as to baptize into Water For I said the Lord have appeared unto thee for this End or Purpose to make thee a Minister and a Witness both of these things which thou hast seen and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee delivering thee from the People and from the Gentiles unto whom now I send thee mark What to do Not to baptize into Water he mentions no such thing no but to open their Eyes and to turn them from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive Forgiveness of Sins and an Inheritance amongst them that are sanctified by Faith that is in Me. This was Paul's Commission if we may so call it as he himself tells the King Agrippa but here is not one word of Water Baptism or not only to Baptize as you Baptists say But if you have no better Weapons then these theâ—e are too short to save your Heads But to proceed You still say The Apostles did Baptize Peter said in the second of the Acts REPENT and be BAPTIZED every one of you in the NAME mark of Iâ—sus Christ for the Remission of Sins and yâ— shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost this Baptism being for the Remission of Sins upon Repentance was necessary to Salvation but so is not yours for the PROMISE mark is unto you But the Promiâ—e was Not WATER-BAPTISM but ye shall be Baptized with the Holy Ghost said the Lord Jesus by way of Promise And this is that which was spoken by the Prophet Ioel 2. 28. And it shall come to pass in the last dayes saith God I will pour out of my Spirâ—t upon all Flâ—sh mark Was not this the Promise of God to them and their Children and to all that are afar off and so on And in Vers. 21. Then they that gladly received the Word were Baptized and THE SAME DAY were added unto them Three Thousand Souls mark ye the same day It was a Great Number to be baptized into Water as you do all of one day if it was so but it is not here so said nor no mention made of Water in this Chapter so that this place will not carry your Matter you would lay on it for all these its said continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and their Doctrine I hope you will own was for Christ If any preach any other Doctrine then what is already preached or lay any other Foundation then which is already laid let him be accursed We preach Christ saith Paul to the Jews a stumbling-block to the Greeks Foolishness but unto them that belive Christ the Wisdom of God and the Power of God It was Christ they preached But say you Philip baptized the Eunuch and the Iaylor was baptized and Cornelius and those with him Peter commanded to be baptized in the Name of the Lord and say you Baptists when was that Command repealed I Answer Though it was a Command yet it was but Peter's Command and Peter had not all reveal'd to him at first but was ignorant of things that were afterwards revealed and so were the rest of the Apostles witness Peter's Vision and the Apostles blaming Peter for going to the Gentiles because they yet saw not into that fore-told Mystery nor many before them saw it not but it was revealed in the Lord's Time to them how that the Gentiles should be Fellow-Heirs and Partakers of the same Glory But you cannot prove that Peter's Command was obeyed He commanded them it is true to be baptized and if they were his Command was fulfilled but who commanded you or sent you Shew us your
Commission For Peter did not any where that I can find command That Water-Baptism should be observed to the World's End No no it was the Baptism of Christ Jesus with the Holy Ghost and Fire that was and is and will be to the End established and commanded in Mat. 28. by Christ And though the Apostles did make use of Iohn's Baptism yet they laid no stress upon us that were to come after them to use it neither was it commanded by Christ for them to use But come May not I say that they saw not to the End of Iohn's Baptism though Iohn had plainly said I must Decrease no more then they saw the Coming of the Gentiles till it was shewed by a Vision and that though Christ had said That the True Worship was in Spirit and in Truth yet that they saw not through the Outward Worship and have I not more Ground for it then you have for Paul's NOT ONLY but if you were in the Light you would see that the Apostles did see but in part and no further then it was revealed unto them no more then we do now But though we should say that they did see unto the End of Iohn's Baptism and unto the End of all Visible things as I know they did in Time as I shall prove hereafter yet although they might yet they that were daily added might have stumbled had they denyed them that of Iohn's Baptism except they also had seen into the Mind of God with them in this Matter for they were but Enterers in as little Children and not grown up to man's State at first but went from Strength to Strength in the Spirit of the Lord and so the Apostles could take Liberty for the furtherance of the Gospel to command Iohn's Dispensation bâ—t were above it themselves out from under its Command in the Power of Christ who was greater then Iohn and had all Power now himself and so it could not command Them but they It And so Philip said unto the Eunuch If thou believest with all thy Heart THOV MAYEST not thou must No but if thou believest thou Mayest he would not deny it him though I believe Philip knew that it was the Spirit 's Baptism that must sanctifie and that Water could not reach the Soul of any nor any way saâ—isfie the Spiritual Part of Mankind And yet took that Liberty in the Spirit because of the Weakness of their yet Childish Capacities to submit to their Weakness in many things that belonged unto the Law as well as in this of Iohn's And is it not also clear That the Apostles would not yet seem to lay the Building if I may so call it of John waste until they had laid and builded on a More Sure Foundation nor wholely preach his Baptism useless nor the Law neither until such time as the Gospel had got some hold of the People and then they testified of One Lord One Faith ONE BAPTISM and that by one Spirit they were all baptived into One Body and had been all made to drink into One Spirit and that they were made able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit and came not with words Man's Wisdom teacheth but with the Words the Holy Ghost teacheth with which they were now baptized comparing Spiritual Things with Spitritual not with carnal or external or elemental Things with Spiritual as you do No no but Spiritual with Spiritual Now they saw by the Revelation of the Spirit into the Mysteries of God's Kingdom and therefore in Heb. 6. 1. the Apostle comes in with these words LEAVING saith he mark Leaving the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ let us go on unto Perfection Come Friends deal plainly for your own Souls Good and God's Glory and tarry not short of him that makes Perfect and cleanseth from all Iniquity and be perswaded to come and wait for the True Baptism of Christ which is with the Holy Ghost and Fire that ye may be sanctified and refined and made every whit whole for it is in much Love to your Souls that these Lines are written by One that desires your Salvation even as his own and truly breathes for the Prosperity of Zion and the Establishment of Truth and Righteousness But now some may Object and say That the Apostles could not have left them if they had not been in Them or in the Vse of Them I Answer True they had so and had also been in the Use of those things the Law had required but mark All these could not make Perfect The Law made nothing Perfect said the Apostle as pertaining to the Conscience And the Baptism of John say you was but a Type Now if the Type could make perfect then there would have heen no need of the Substance for if Perfection had been by the Levitical Priesthood then verily Righteousness would have been by the Law and now say I If John 's Baptism could have taken or have wash'd away Sin then verily Righteousness would have been by John I mean that men would have been then by it made perfectly and truly Righteous but Iohn himself preached no such thing by himself but said I am not He but behold him the Lamb of God that takes away the Sins of the World This is he of whom I spakâ— one Mightier then I cometh he must Increase of the Increase of his Government and Kingdom there shall be no End And therefore saith the Apostle LEAVING which word therefore seems to entail the fore going words in the Chapter before where he had bin telling them of their Childishness he mentions the Doctrine of Baptisms which cannot prove the Imposing of Water-Baptism any more then all the rest and was now for bringing them on to a further State where they might know Perfection and have Meat that would satisfie True Bread that comes down from Heaven and impowers to be Sons of God And it seems clear to me that there was some Need for those things they had so long lain like Children weak and like Babes in to be left Therefore LEAVING these let us go on to Perfection and saith further This will we do if Godpermit But if they had been commanded by Christ to have been used to the World's End then why should Paul for so I call that Author have been so earnest at that Day which was soon after Christ's Ascension to have had them then to leave them and to go on to a more Manful Powerful Perfect State So that it is very clear to all whose Eyes the Lord hath opened that though the Apostles had by Reason of their Weakness submitted to their Childish Capacities rather then they would lose their hold they had got of them yet this or these things were not the Thing they were driving at But the Aim and End of all they did both in Circumcision Passover Vows and Seven Dayes Purification and Water-Baptism yea and all those things they did concerning Meats and other
was then was the True Baptism known then came the Holy Ghost upon them then did the True Light shine and the Darkness fled way then were they inwardly washed and their Understandings opened then was the Circumcision of the Heart known then was he entred into that within the Vail into the true Tabernacle which God pitched and not Man And so Iohn went before as a Type but willingly gave place to the Substance So that its clear the Baptism you use is not Iohn's and it it much more clear that it is not Christ's Baptism and so it must needs be your own done by you in Imitation of the Holy Men of God gone before who did what they did in Obedience to the Lord and in his Power and were sent by him but oh who ever sent you Baptists in this great and notable Day of the Lord It will one day be said Who hath required these things at your Hands Either shew us your Commission or else acknowledge your great Error Repent and come unto the true Light and walk in it prize it and obey it that ye may be saved by it For it is not a fair Outside of the Cup or Platter but the inward Washing of Regeneration by the Spirit and a living in the Spirit and the whole Worship of God say we and say the Scriptures the same That the True Worship of God is in Spirit and in Truth but that your Water-Baptism is Spiritual I deny or that it ought to be observed in the Worship of God you cannot prove but Iohn's was ordained to be used as a Type before the Spirit 's Worship or the true Worship in the Spirit was fully established and of it self a thing that I believe none of you dare say doth in any measure sanctifie and wash the Soul And if it be of so little Effect unto the Soul why what Necessity is there for the Continuance of it to the World's End since also ye cannot prove it so commanded for once more let me tell you that the Baptism commanded in the 28th of Matthew was INTO the Name of the Father Son Spirit or Holy Ghost but I say this was not Iohn's for they that had been baptiz'd unto Iohn's Baptism had not so much as heard of a Holy Ghost Acts 19. 1 2 3 4. which they must needs have done if they had been baptized with the use of these words In the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost But further you acknowledge your selves that it is but a Type well I ask you then What doth it type forth unto us or what is it a Type of If it be a Type of the Baptism of Christ then I ask you What further need is there of it when the Thing signified by it is come Or do you think that the Type and Substance must remain together to the World's End Was it not always from the Foundation of the Law that when the Substance came that the Shadows fled away But although you should still say Why then did the Apostles use it after the Spirit 's Baptism was accomplisht I answer as before The Apostles had Power over it after they saw beyond it and could submit unto the Weakness of Believers Capacities in many things as above is mentioned but that they saw not beyond it till it was reveal'd unto them is clear but then they spoak of the one Baptism of the one Lord of the one Faith And so Iohn himself when he saw Jesus walking he said unto his Followers Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the Sins of the World and John 's Disciples LEET John mark they Left John and walked no more with him For Iohn's Baptism could not wash them from their Sins but behold the Lamb of God takes away Sin puts an End to Sins finishes Transgression brings in everlasting Righteousness he makes every whit whole and fully saves to the utmost them that come to God by him and makes clean them he washeth And if I Wash thee not saith he thou hast no Part in Me He satisfies for he is the Bridegroom himself but Iohn was not he its true was the Bridegroom's Friend and would not rob him of his Prerogative or Honour but rejoyced to hear his Voice and when it was heard said This my Ioy therefore is fulfilled So we own Iohn in his place and Time but we own the Bridegroom above Iohn although Iohn was his Friend did what he was commanded but thought not much to give him place who had commanded him And so my dearly beloved Friends it is in much Love to all but chiefly to you called Anabaptists that this is written as I can truly testifie in the Manifestation of that true Light spoaken of in the Scriptures of Truth unto which I once more beseech you to turn your Minds and believe in it and come to walk in it and obey it and then will you have Fellowship with us and truly our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Christ Jesus by whom we have also received the Attonement and in whom we live out of whom we cannot live for He is our Life To him be Glory forever Written the 7th of the 1st Moneth 1674. Iohn Gratton GReat hath been the Travail of my Soul for the Prosperity of Sion and for her Establishment above the Top of all the Mountains and blessed be the Lord my God my Eyes behold her and see her Beauty to exceed all the Glory of the Earth and her coming out of her Wilderness State is come I say the Time is come and many have lyed or lain in the Way side to have drawn her aside and would gladly have allured and inticed her from her Beloved gladly would have had her turned aside unto other Lovers and have cryed out unto her What is thy Beloved unto anothers Beloved and have spoken against her and when they could not prevail with her have evil-entreated her and per secuted her for her Beloved's sake and many have been her Troubles but the Lord hath delivered her out of all And great is her Ioy at this Day and her Glory exceeds all the Glory of the Nations Her Beauty is Perfect she is a Virgin and never was defiled but is all Glorious The King's Daughter is all Glorious within her Garments are of wrought Gold wholely pure she has no Blemish she is all fair without Spot the only beloved of the Lord Glory to his Name He hath remembred her in Love and her Sorrows has he seen and will plead her Cause and subdue Kingdoms for her sake and make her Way plain before her Oh! come unto Sion all ye that desire her Prosperity and be not so foolish as to sit down short of her her City is free her Gates are open hy Day by Night she has no need of the Sun by Day nor of the Moon by Night but the Lord God the Lamb are the Light thereof Her Light will never grow dark her Sun will never set Night shall be no more upon her for her Sun is arisen and as one to run a Race is marching on his Strength is as a Lyon his Voice is heard to Roar and great Fear is fallen and a falling upon the Beast of Prey Oh! who would not live in her Her Gates are paved with precious Pearles her Inhabitants are all Kings and Priests unto God she is altogether Comely and her Glory shall never have an End Amen Oh! who who would not dwell here Come come unto Sion all ye that are sincere to what ye know Turn ye turn at her Call and embrace her Counsel Why will ye bestow your Money for that which is not Bread and your Labour for that which satisfieth not Oh! come unto me saith the Lord my Voice is near you How often have I called and ye regarded not nor have not answered my Requirements but are imitating them whose Life and Power you are out of But now turn ye unto the Lord with all your Hearts believe in his Light and Life will you know that never can have End but if you still Refuse you will one day know that you were Warned and Invited by one that truly seeks not himself but earnestly travails for the Welfare of all men and is become Servant to all for Iesus's sake To Him be all Honour Praise and Dominion forever and for evermore J. G. THE END